Page 11 of Shootout
“I need a beer.” I pushed past him through the door, but he was hot on my heels.
By the sheepish yet amused looks on the players’ faces, the word had gotten out. I’d been naive to hope Geneva and Banks would keep their mouths shut. My anger boiled beneath the surface, and I was ready to lash out at the next asshole who said one word about last night. My naked encounter with Banks, regardless of the reason, shouldn’t be the subject of locker room gossip in the first place. Someone had some explaining to do, but first, my brother would pay for his latest attempt to control me. I’d known his overprotectiveness would be an issue when I’d moved here, but I hadn’t expected that side of him to rear its ugly head so soon. Jason needed to concentrate on his life and stay out of mine.
I racked my brain for a plan to teach him a lesson once and for all.
I walked in that door and laid eyes on Banks, sitting with several teammates at one of those high tables near the back of the room. At first, I was embarrassed, but I refused to show weakness in front of these guys. I held my head high.
Banks turned as I approached and warily watched the two of us. An evil thought embraced me, and I didn’t pause to consider the consequences. I’d give this group something to gossip about and show my brother he couldn’t tell me what to do.
Before Banks had a chance to react, I walked right up to him, wrapped my arms around the back of his neck, and pulled him to me for a hard, demanding kiss. At first, he was so shocked he froze and didn’t move a muscle. I leaned into him and threaded my fingers in his hair. My mouth demanded a response, and he didn’t hesitate long before he kissed me back, tongue and all. I barely heard the jeering and cheers around the table over the roaring in my ears.
For a brief moment, I forgot this kiss was merely to get even with my brother. Banks was an incredible kisser, and I allowed myself time to enjoy his dirty plundering of my mouth with his talented tongue. I leaned into him. My eyes fluttered shut, and a guttural moan rose from deep down inside. Banks stiffened as if he’d come to his senses, and ended the kiss before I did, probably worried he’d be the focus of a barroom brawl if he didn’t.
I wasn’t done with him yet. I grabbed his arm and yanked him off his stool. “Let’s go somewhere private. I haven’t seen you in weeks.” I gave Banks my most sultry look. Jason’s mouth fell open. I’d rendered him speechless. Score one for the home team.
Confusion flitted across Banks’s face to be replaced by a slow smile. He knew what I was doing, and he played along.
“Sounds good to me. Later, boys.”
A stunned silence followed.
Arm in arm, we strode from the bar with a couple dozen eyes following us out the door. I waited until we were out of sight and around the corner before collapsing against the brick wall of the building and laughing my ass off.
ChapterFour
PRANKING
~~Banks~~
Iblindly let Jessie lead me from the bar, as stunned as my teammates at what had just happened while being amused at the priceless expression on Wild’s face. If I had a picture of him at that moment, I’d frame it and use it for a dartboard.
Jessie leaned against the brick wall of the building and erupted into laughter. Her joy was contagious, and I joined in. I found myself endeared to her because of her wicked delight. I’d pay the consequences later in the locker room, but the look on his face had been worth it.
When we finally regained control of ourselves, I asked the question burning my tongue.
“What the fuck was that all about? Not that it wasn’t fun, because it was way fun for more reasons than one.”
“My brother is a controlling asshole and thinks he can tell me what to do and who to do it with. Now that we’re living in the same town, I had to teach him a lesson.”
“Anytime you want to teach him that particular lesson, I’m in.”
She rolled her eyes, and I was oddly disappointed. That kiss hadn’t meant anything to her other than wreaking revenge upon her brother while it rocked my world. I’d been around the block enough, there weren’t too many things off the ice that had a profound effect on me, but that kiss had. My lips still remembered the touch of hers. Certain parts of my anatomy definitely recalled every microsecond we’d been involved in our educational session.
“I’m guessing your brother spoke to you about what happened in the locker room today?”
She narrowed her eyes and lasered me with a bullet right to the heart. Standing up straighter, anger took over, and she was fucking hot when she was angry.
“What the hell did happen?” she demanded with indignance. “Were you bragging to the boys about seeing me naked?”
I held up my hands, hurt that she’d think I would do such a thing, but she didn’t know me. “No, no, not at all. Axel brought it up. I tried to stop him. Unfortunately, I discounted the amazing hearing of some of these guys, and the entire incident spread like wildfire. I didn’t know you were related to Wild. When he heard we were doing it on the shower floor, he punched me.” I reached up and rubbed my still-sore jaw.
“He punched you?” Some of her anger faded to incredulity.
“Yeah, and warned me to stay away from you or else.” In an effort to clear myself, I was probably talking too much. This was a case where less was more and more was way too much.
“For the record, we weren’t doing it on the shower floor.”
“An oversight I regret.” I grinned, and she glared at me.
